McLaren has announced that F1 Academy racer Bianca Bustamante has joined the team as its first female member of the British marque’s driver development programme.
The 18-year-old driver from the Philippines made her single-seater debut in 2022 becoming the W Series top rookie the same year.
In 2023, she featured on the inaugural F1 Academy grid with Prema, earning two wins and two podiums so far. The series reaches its conclusion this weekend in Austin.
Bustamante will represent ART Grand Prix in the championship in 2024 and will run a McLaren livery to reflect her association with the F1 team and development programme.
Yesterday, F1 Academy announced its calendar for the 2024 season with all seven rounds featuring on F1’s support bill.
Last month, it was also announced that next season’s championship will be supported by all 10 F1 teams, each fielding one driver sporting their team’s respective colours.
“This is such an unreal moment in my career, to sign with McLaren and ART Grand Prix is way beyond anything I could’ve ever imagined growing up racing karts in the Philippines,” Bustamante said regarding the announcement.
“I still have a hard time seeing my name next to McLaren without getting emotional, as the history and heritage linked to this team leaves me truly speechless.
“I’m so grateful for this opportunity as I believe I now have the best possible development structure around me to take the next step up in my career, and for this I am so thankful.
“2023 was all about improving my speed which I demonstrated across several races this year, but in 2024 my aim is to establish consistency and improve my mental strength in order to make a title challenge in the coming F1 Academy season.”
Heading into the final round at Circuit of the Americas, Bustamante sits seventh in the F1 Academy standings picking up wins in Monza and Valencia.
“For now, my focus is to finish off the F1 Academy season strongly here in Austin, but we’ll get to work immediately on the 2024 season. I’ve never been more motivated in my life!
“A big thanks goes to Susie Wolff and the team at F1 Academy for fighting so hard for us girls and to give us this opportunity to be the best we can be.
“Additional thanks go to Zak Brown, Andrea Stella, Emanuele Pirro, Sebastian Philippe, my sponsors, and all my supporters for believing in me and making this all possible. I am full of gratitude, and I promise to give it my all.”
McLaren Team Principal Stella added: “The team are delighted for Bianca to join us, and for McLaren to be involved in F1 Academy.
“It’s a core principle of ours to be a diverse and inclusive team, so we’re pleased to be so involved in Formula 1’s work on the important topic of improving gender diversity within motorsport.
“We also look forward to seeing Bianca grow and progress within the McLaren Racing Driver Development programme under Emanuele’s guidance.”
